Self-propelling floor polisher



Feb. 10, 1931.

J. H. HARRISON 1,791,812

SELF PROPELLING FLOOR POLISHER Filed June 9, 1928 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED .STATI-:s

JOHN H. HARRION, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA SELF-PROPELLING FLOOR POIISHER Application led June 9, 1928. Serial No. 284,08'3.

This invention relates to electrically driven floor polishing machines; my principal l object being to provide a machine of this character which may be caused to propel itself backward or forward at the option of the operator without any push or pull on the guiding handle being necessary. At the same time the self propelling feature may be rendered inoperative at will, in the event that the machine is operating in close quarters where manual propulsion and manipulation is needed. In this manner loor polishing operations are facilitated and expedited, without the operator being fatigued through the necessity of continually pushing or pulling the machine over the floor by hand.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedinglyeifective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine showing the inclosing hood in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross transverse section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a vfragmentary top plan view show* ing the connection of the guide handle and control member relative to the frame and to each other.

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations more o1 less diagrammatic, showing the movement of the structure which controls the forward 'and backward travel of the machine.

Fig. G is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the mounting of the roller-supporting arms in connection with the frame and cross'bar.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the frame 1 of the machine includes opposed side frames 1a, journaled in which are longitudinally spaced transverse shafts 2 carrying drums 3 which are provided with radial bristles to form continuous rot-ary brushes 4. Disposed above and between the brushes is an electric motor 5, whose axis is parallel to the axes of the brushes.

This motor is supported by vertical hanger rods 6 adjustably mounted in arch extensions 7 projecting upwardly from and rigid with the frame. The motor shaft is connected in driving relation with one drum on both sides by belts 8, and similarly with the other drum by cross belts 9. The adjustable hangers ena le the motor to be raised or lowered so as to alter the tension of the belts when necessary. Mechanical equivalents of such belts may of course be used, the object being to cause the brushes to be rotated in opposite directions.

Pivoted in common in the sides 1a by bolts B or the like and disposed centrally between the shafts 2 are overlapping longitudinally extending and downwardly diverging pairs of arms 10 which at their lower ends support small rollers 11 disposed to the sides of the brushes and arranged to alternately engage the floor. The lower ends of the arms 10 are transversely forked so as to straddle the rollers and thus provide a better support for the roller spindles. The arms 10 are provided with slots 12 concentric with the pivots of said arms, and are clamped together by bolts 13 through said slots. In this manner the angle of divergence of the arm units and consequently the normal vertical distance between the side frames and the bottom of the rollers may be altered to suit the different conditions. The pairs of arms are rigidly connected by the bolts 13 to the de ending end extensions of a cross bar 14 disposed above the pivots of said arms, from which cross bar an upstanding centrally disposed pin 15 projects. The upper end of the pin engagesl a spiral groove 16 formed in the periphery of a sleeve 17 which is splined onto a longitudinally extending rod 18 journaled adjacent its ends in the frame 1. Counteracting springs 19 on the shaft at the ends of the sleeve yieldably hold the latter against longitudinal movement.

Pivotally connected to one end of the frame for movement in a vertical plane is a transverse yoke 20 from the outer end of which 109 26,. this unit being mounte is ltaken evenly bly;

a tubular handle 21 of convenient length proJects.

Turnable in the handle is a rod 22, which at its lower end has a universal joint 23 connecting the same with the adjacent end of the vrod 18; this joint being disposed in the plane of the yoke pivots. At. its upper end the rod 22 is provided with a turning knob 24 or the like which is disposed beyond the upper end .of the handle. To prevent too eas turning of the rod 18, braking means is pre erably provided in the form of a plug 25 of fiber or the likebearing against the rod 18 and yieldably pressed thereaainst by a spring in connection with one ofthe rod bearings. The entire"machine to the bottom of the frame is covered by a suitable hood 27 Y which-is supported by' said frame.

In operation the rollers 11 are first initially adjusted so that when the pin 15 is in a neutral position in the groove 16, all Said rollers will practically clear the floor to an even extent, so that the entire weight of the machine the two brushes. In this case, therefore, t e propulsive effect of one brush in one direction is offset by the propulsive ei'ect of the other brush in the other direction. The machine while effectively polishing the floor will thus remain stationary and mustbe propelled by a push or pull on the handle. To cause the machine to propel itselr` along the floor in one direction or the other, it is only necessary for the operator to rotate the knob 24 in one direction or the other, which will of course cause the grooved sleeve 17 to be rotated. This causes the in 15 to rock back or forth, imparting a simi ar movement to the arm units 10 and the rollers 11 supported thereby. As a result one set of the rollers 11 will be depressed into supporting engagement with the floor, while raising the other set.

This will release one brush from frictional i engagement with the floor, while causing the other brush to remain frietionally engaged with the floor. The machine will therefore be propelled along the oor in one direction accordin to the direction in which the lioor engaged rush is being rotated. At the same time a certain slippage of the brush on the floor will be obtained, so that the speed of rotation of the brush will be greater than its movement along the floor, so that it will still i" continue to exert a polishing effect on the floor. This action and the movement of the rollers 11 and brushes will be plainl evident from Figs. 4 and 5. As the brus es wear down the roller supporting arms are adjusted to a greater angle by means of the clamping bolts 13, so as to normally raise the rollers relative to the floor and permit the worn brushes to properly engage the Hoor when the said rollers are in their neutral positions. The counteracting springs 19 provide a. cushion mounting of the member 17, enabling a more gradual pressure to be applied to the in 15 than would otherwise be the case, and without depending on a delicate control of the member 24.

From the fore oing description it will be readily seen thatgl have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects ofthe invention as set forth herein.

While 'this specification sets forth 1 n detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations `from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the 'inventioii, as defined by the appended claims. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure vby Letters Patent is: y

1. A self-propelling floor polisher including a frame, a pair of rotary brushes to engage the floor mounted on the frame in spaced relation longitudinall of the frame, means for rotating the brus es in opposite directions relative to each other, means provided in connection with the frame to raise one or the other of the brushes from frictional engagement with the ioor and means operable at will from a point remote from said brush raising means for controlling the operation of the same.

2. A self-propelling floor polisher including a frame, a pair of rotary brushes to engage the iioor mounted on the frame in spaced relation longitudinally of the frame, means for rotating the brushes in opposite directions relative to each other, longitudinally spaced rollers to engage the floor independently of the brushes, means mounting the rollers in connection with the rframe in such position as to cause one or the other of the brushes to be raised when the corresponding roller is depressed against the floor from a normal position, means for thus depressing the rollers at will and means operable at will from a point remote from said brush raising means for controlling the operation of the same.

3. A self-propelling floor polisher including a frame, a pair of rotary brushes to engage the ioor mounted on the frame in spaced relation longitudinally of the frame, means for rotating the brushes in oppositeI directions relative to each other, rollers spaced longitudinally of the frame in symmetrical positions relative to the brushes to engage the floor independently of the brushes, arms connecting the rollers, pivot means between said arms and frame disposed. parallel to the axes of the brushes and rollers, means for rocking said arms one Way or the other to cause.one roller or the other to be depressed against the floor to raise the corresponding brush and means operable at will from a point remote from said brush raising means for controlling the operation of the mounted, counteracting springs bearing same. against both ends of the member, and means 4. A device as in claim 3, with a guiding for rotating the shaft. n handle projecting upwardly from the 10. A structure as in claim 2 with means frame, and control means for actuating said for independently altering the normal verarm rocking means mounted in connection tical positioning of the rollers relative to the With the handle. frame.

5. A self-propelling floor polisher includ- In testimony whereof I affix my signature. ing a frame, a pair of rotary brushes to en- JOHN H. HARRISON. gage the floor mounted on the frame in spaced relation longitudinall of the frame, means for rotating the brushes in opposite directions relative to each other, longitudinally spaced rollers to engage the floor independently of the brushes, arms connecting the rollers, pivot means between said arms and frame disposed parallel to the axes of the brushes and rollers, a pin projecting radially relative to pivot means, means connecting said pin to the arms, a rotatable member having a spiral groove into which the outer end of the pin projects, means for rotating said member in one direction or the other to cause said pin to move through a certain arc and means operable at will from a point remote from said brush raising means for controlling the operation of the same.

6. A device as in claim 5, said last named means comprising a handle projecting longitudinally from one end of the frame, a rod turnably mounted in and controllable from the upper end of the handle, and connections between the lower end of the rod and the grooved member for rotating the latter.

7. A floor polisheti including a pair of parallel rotary brushes to engage the floor spaced apart longitudinally of the polisher, means for rotating the brushes in opposite directions relative to each other, and selectively controlled means to raise one brush or the other relative to the floor or to permit both brushes to simultaneously engage the., Hoor with equal pressure.

8. A floor polisher including a rotary brush to engage the floor, additional floor engaging members mounted in connection with the brush, means for adjusting said additional members vertically, and separato means for independently adjusting the vertical position of said members. y 9. A floor polisher including a frame, rotary brushes to engage the floor mounted on the frame in spaced .relation longitudinall thereof, rollers spaced longitudinally of the frameto engage the floor independently of the brushes, arms connecting the rollers, pivot means between said arms and frame disposed parallel to the axes of the brushes and rollers, means connecting said arms, a pninn mounted on said means and projecting radially relative to said pivot means, a rotatable member having a spiral groove into which the pin projects, a shaft on which said member is slidably but non-turnably 

